Title

Author

Date of Award

3-2013

Degree Name

MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Advisor

Misgana Muleta, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

Abstract

The Arroyo Grande Creek Watershed, an approximately 170 mi2 watershed located on the central coast of California, drains to the Pacific Ocean via the Arroyo Grande Creek that passes through several coastal cities including the community of Oceano. At the mouth of the Creek is the Arroyo Grande Lagoon, which is connected to another lagoon known as the Oceano Lagoon, by a tidal flap-gate whose hydraulics is a function of water levels in the two lagoons. Historically the Oceano Lagoon has played a part in floods that have occurred in the community of Oceano. The most recent flooding occurred in 2010 when a storm with about a10-yr frequency caused flooding that led to an estimated property damage of about two million dollars. This study was conducted to understand hydrology of the Arroyo Grande watershed that also feeds Lopez Lake, a reservoir that provides water for drinking, agriculture, and environmental flows; to characterize hydraulics of the Oceano Lagoon; and to explore scenarios for flood mitigation. Objectives of the study are to provide a better understanding of the causes of the historical floodings; map the extent of floodings for various storm events including 10 year, 50 year, and 100 year under current conditions; and examine potential solutions to reduce future floodings. Surface water hydrology of the Arroyo Grande Creek Watershed was studied using HEC-HMS to quantify runoff specifically into the Oceano Lagoon. HEC-HMS was calibrated using known streamflow to improve the accuracy of the model. The HEC-HMS model was developed using spatial data that was organized in ArcMAP. Data such as elevation, land use, soil type, and impervious surface were processed using HEC-GeoHMS and exported to HEC-HMS. Mitigation measures were simulated in HEC-HMS by adjusting parameters such as the outlet configuration and the increased volume in Oceano Lagoon. Each mitigation measure delivered varying effectiveness. Results show that while the peak flow and volume in the lagoon can be reduced, larger design storms will continue to inundate the area unless drastic steps are taken. The findings could assist local flood control agencies by evaluating the risks of continuing to use the existing drainage system, and identifying opportunities available to reduce those risks.